Whether you’re looking for a technological detox or you just want to get away from “real life” for a while, camping is a time-tested vacation tradition that keeps campers coming back, year after year.
As a member of a competitive BBQ team and lover of smoked meats, I do a lot of smoking in the summer. The big secret to great BBQ is correct temperatures and timing. ThermoWorks offers many products to make sure the temps are correct, and I recently had the opportunity to try their newest product, the $69 BlueDOT.
Surf’s up! Summer is officially here, and what better way to celebrate the sun and heat than by visiting the closest body of water you can find? Enjoy it even more by taking along the new Surf waterproof Bluetooth speaker from ION Audio.
If you have been looking for an ultra-durable, insulated, food safe backpack, look no further than MUUL and its new RuckBucket. This new rig will allow you to carry just about anything into or out of your destination – be that mountain, desert, racetrack…anywhere.
Summertime is just about here, and with it comes all the new gear from NERF. Recently, my crack team of testers and I checked out a couple of the new releases for 2018 to see if they are worthy of kids big and small.
South Texas mosquitos are often the size of a pigeon and seem to be super hungry for human blood. I have used a Thermacell for hunting and outdoors for years. Their new Radius Zone Mosquito Repellent ($49.99) brings scent free, powerful protection with only one refill component and a rechargeable battery. Let’s see how it holds up to summer skeeters.
Memorial Day has become regarded as the unofficial kick-off of summer, and with that distinction, the beginning of outdoor grilling season. If you’re a fan of barbecue or low-and-slow cooking in general, temperature control is vitally important to your efforts’ success. I’ve recently discovered an extremely useful tool that has upped my barbecue game, the Flame Boss 300.
The Camp Chef SmokePro SG Pellet Grill is that rare breed of equipment that’s so easy to use; you can feel like a master after your first cook. Although this was the first pellet grill/smoker I’ve ever used, the SmokePro SG made me feel like a championship BBQ pitmaster. Starting at $749.99, the SmokePro SG belongs in every carnivore’s backyard.
If you like to ride your bike early in the morning or right before the sun goes down, then you know that there’s a fine line between decent riding vision and “too dark to see”. You need a good light to get you safely home, and the Cycle Torch Shark 55R Bike Light will give you just that.
If you enjoy skiing, hiking, biking, or any other outdoor activity that can get you separated from your group, you’ll want to check out the new LynQ Indiegogo campaign. LynQ is a smart compass that “locates anyone without the need for phones, networks or infrastructure of any kind,” and it’s available for pre-order today.
As much fun as this looks, a garden torch probably isn’t the safest and best way to light a barbecue grill. I have used a torch hooked up to a propane tank in the past, but despite my friend’s enthusiasm in this photo, I’ve found a better way: The Bison Airlighter 420. Here’s why The Bison is a significant improvement.
Several years ago, “minimalism” was in for running shoes. Companies were falling all over each other to make thin-soled shoes. That fad has mostly passed, for better or worse, but the companies left standing are the ones making high quality, truly excellent footwear. Xero Shoes is one of them, and we’ve been testing their Z-Trek Sandals on many adventures!
Swagtron, the leader in electronic rideables, has expanded their cycling line to include two folding electronic bikes and a youth-sized electronic fat tire bike. Blending performance, value, and technology, new e-bikes offer solutions for adults, commuters, and kids alike. Ranging from $599.99 to $839.98, these new bikes are cost-effective and eco-friendly ways to get where you need to go.
I love being able to have lighting options off of the grid, both for piece of mind during an emergency and also during my outdoor adventures. The Cairn XL Smart Lantern ($99) brings quality, phone connectivity, and spare power in a well designed, water and dust proof package. This light excels in all categories. Let’s take a look!
Flowfold products are made for life’s everyday adventures. Their mission is to celebrate adventure, support their community, promote environmental responsibility, and build a sustainable business. Using reclaimed materials, they build bags, wallets, and more that come with a lifetime guarantee. Flowfold was kind enough to send their Denizen Limited 18L Tote Backpack and Conductor Limited Duffle for review.
Nature has a funny way of sneaking up on people. A flower that seemed it wouldn’t flourish for weeks suddenly blooms in all its glory only a couple of days later. Nature enthusiasts know this phenomenon well, and many of them wish it were possible to record plant and flower growth as it happens, thereby never missing out on natural beauty at its peak.
Ring, who recently made the news after it was reported that Amazon is acquiring them, has another security camera worth fawning over. The Ring Spotlight Cam Solar is a WiFi security camera that can be mounted almost anywhere and is powered by the sun. Priced at $229, it illuminates the night with built-in LEDs when it senses motion.
I spend a lot of time hunting, on a tractor, and generally in the outdoors. Protecting my iPhone 7+ can be a daunting task in some of the conditions I carry it. I recently tried out the SnowLizard SLXtreme iPhone 7+/8+ case, and found it to be packed with protective features.
If you’re on the lookout for a fresh pair of shades, Sunski may be the Holy Grail at the end of your quest. They’ve got loads of styles and color combinations, along with polarized lenses and a lifetime warranty. You can get your hands on these fashionable yet extremely lightweight frames starting at $48.
The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association represents a global array of businesses that make their living selling products that depend on fire. I was lucky enough to score a pass to visit the expo for two days when the association’s annual convention came to Nashville, and I discovered that the industry is continuously innovating, especially when it comes to outdoor cooking.
If your job means being outside in the harshest weather conditions, and you need a tablet that can survive drops that would kill other devices, one that can be used while wearing work gloves or even when the screen is wet, then you might want to check out the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active2. It was made for just that.